San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1887-01-11
CHAPTER XIII,

CHAPTER XIU.
How long was il since Lady Gerton
| had left her? The blue pigeons were
| circling round her; the sunlight lay low
on the trees: time had not stood still.
| She rose TO go back to the house; she
! had but one idea; it was TO creep away
| to hide her face and die. At first she
! could not walk, she CROPPED her way like
! one suddenly blinded: then she reached
| the stone courtyard and went up to her
| own room. She met Mrs. Vaughan on
the stairs, who looked up in wonder at
! her white, daZed face.
"What is the matter, Ruth?n she ask
| ed, quickly.
The girl looked at Ter mother with
| eyes that did not seem TO understand.
"Ruth," cried Mrs. Vaughan, what
is the matter with you?'
~ have a headache that almost blinds
| me-" she replied.
THAT is sunstroke; | knew the sun
was too hot for you. How those fine
| ladies can sit out in the heat of an Au-
gust afternoon, | cannot think; | wish
| they had stopped away. Why, Ruth,
| my dear, you are as white as the driven
snow,-and you tremble. Go to your
! own room and lie down, | will come to
you when these fine, tiresome ladies are
gone"
She did not add that Eric st. John
was going too; she took it for granted
that her daughter knew all about that.
Bonnie Doom bent down and kissed
her mothers face; her lips were as cold
as ice, and they were never to be warm
ed by her lovers kiss again.
Ruth, am sure you are ILL.," said
Mrs. Vaughan, anxiously. Kate Bar
berry had sunstroke last year, and she
was i'll for months"
II shall be well in a few hours, moth
err" she said, family; then she flung
herself on her bed-to rest.
The very word was mockery. How
could she rest, with that passionate pain
beating in her heart and brain?
This morning she had lain in his arms,
he had kissed her face, he had called
her "his beautiful love-" tonight she
heard that he was going to be married
early next year.
This morning, in the spring of her
glad and happy Young love. she had not
thought Of any barrier between them.
She had not remembered his position
and her own; she had only remembered
that she loved him, and he loved her.
But If he was going to marry this mag
niticent Lady May. he must be far re-
moved from her.
She did not miStrilSt him: she did not
say to herself that he had deceived her.
A great black, funeral pail had fallen
over her, and hid from her even her
own thoughts.
The bright afternoon had passed now,
and the ladies began to feel anxious
over the drive.
I'VE must start: Eric said Lady
May: Il should not like to be late, and
should hardly think that the night all
is good for you
But he would not go without seeing
Ruth. He left the ladies in the little
green drawing-room. and went in search
If her; but there was no trace of Bonnie
Doom, nor could he hear any sound of
her voice.
If he had known what Lady GeTton
told her, he would have understood, and
would have known what message to
send her: he never dreamt of it, he was
clever enough, but not so clever as a
worldly woman. Not finding her, he
went into the kitchen. where Mrs.
Vaughan was lamenting his departure,
and there he asked for Ruth.
II cannot go away without seeing her
and thanking her." he said; ''She has
been so very good to me-"
II am very sorry, Mr.. st. john" said
the farmers wife, you cannot see
Ruth; she is ILL.,"
"Illl' he repeated; ''she was well
enough this afternoon"
"She went out, sir, with one Of the
ladies, and the afternoon was very hot;
l am afraid she has SunStrOke."
"a sunstrokel" he repeated. II hope
not. Why should she? She is accus-
toned to being out in the sunshine"
"She came back here as white as the
driven snow, with a headache that
blinded her, and she trembled so that
she could hardly stand. That looks like
sunstroke."
at does certainly" he replied. You
must have doctor for her, Mrs. Waugh
an"
II shall take good care of her, you
may be sure, sir. Ruth is the light of
our lifel"
Still he could not endure the thought
of going away without seeing her. Sweet
Bonnie Doonl
Are you sure, Mrs. Vaughan" he
asked, THAT cannot see her? If she
knew that | was going away, she would
want to see me | am sure"
''She does know sir, " and Mrs. Waugh
an quite thought she was speaking
the truth. "She knows, but l am sure
she could not come down; she is not
well enough"
1t asahOrrible disappointment to him.
He stood quite still, wondering what he
could do or say. He could not endure
the thought of leaving her,-Of going
away without one word of goodbye,
one kiss of the sweet face. Even at the
last moment; while the horses were put
to the carriage and the ladies were
dressing,-even then he would have re-
fused to go, he would have said that he
had changed his mind, but that he act
ually dreaded the comments of the two
ladies, and had some vague fear that it
would affect Bonnie Doom.
"Will you take q message from me to
Miss Vaughan?n he asked,
"That will sir" was the simple re-
"Tell her from me that IL am most
grateful to her; that while live shall
never forget her kindness to me. Tell
her shall come back TO the farm in the
course of few days, if it be only to see
you all for an hour or two. Tell her
from me that | shall send her some lit
tie token of my gratitude. Tell her also
how grieved | am not to see her."
Mrs. Vaughan gave the message most
carefully, the only words she omitted
were the most important in it. She for
got to say that he would be sure to re-
turn.
After he had given the message, still
Eric st. John stood very disconsolate.
Mrs. Vaughan" he said suddenly, 81
have never made Ruth present, and l
owe her more than | can ever repay;